1 / 26

Incorporating Pandemic Planning into School Crisis Plans

Learn how to address the unique crisis situation of a pandemic influenza and incorporate pandemic planning into school crisis plans. Understand the potential risks, challenges, and government responses, and start planning for prevention, mitigation, and preparedness.

cruby
Télécharger la présentation

Incorporating Pandemic Planning into School Crisis Plans

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Infectious Disease Planning: Incorporating Pandemic Planning into School Crisis PlansEmergency Management for Schools TrainingSanta Monica, California September 26, 2006 Dana Carr Program Specialist, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools

  2. Why Address Pandemic Influenza? • Is a unique crisis situation, different than other emergencies • Has potential to cause serious social disruption • Is part of continuum of emergency management planning

  3. Seasonal Influenza • Serious public health problem • 36,000 deaths in the US per year • 120,000-200,000 hospitalizations per year • Usually poses respiratory symptoms • "Flu season" typically lasts from November-March in the US • "Flu shots" help protect against circulating influenza viruses predicted for each particular flu season

  4. What is a Pandemic? • New strain of influenza virus • Universal susceptibility • Affects large portion of the world and population • Unpredictable

  5. Historic Pandemics • 1918: Spanish Flu (~50 million deaths worldwide, 500,000-675,000 in the US) • 1957: Asian Flu (1-2 million deaths worldwide, 70,000 in the US) • 1968-69: Hong Kong Flu (700,000 deaths worldwide, 34,000 in the US) • ?? Scientists believe that it is a matter of time before the next pandemic (when, not if)

  6. Potential Cause of Pandemic: H5N1? • Scientists are watching H5N1 carefully • Spreads quickly in bird population • Has existed in current form for many years • Has high fatality rate (about 50%) and ability to cause serious disease in humans • Strain is similar (and maybe identical) to the virus that caused the 1918 pandemic • Has the potential to shift in a way that makes it easier to spread between people

  7. Potential Source of Spread

  8. Confirmed Cases of H5N1 as of July, 2006 Source: www.pandemicflu.gov, accessed September 15, 2006

  9. However… • There is no sustained human-to-human transmission • Those who have gotten sick have had direct contact with infected birds • H5N1 is a concern but may or may not cause the next pandemic There is no influenza pandemic at this time

  10. Planning Assumptions • Worst case scenario assumed:1918-like pandemic, little preparation • Spread will likely be rapid and unpredictable • Each wave of the virus may affect a community for 6-8 weeks at a time • Absentee rates may be as high as 40% • 20% of adults will be sick (40% of children) • Some will stay home as a protective step • Others will need to tend to children or sick family members

  11. Challenges Unique to an Influenza Pandemic • Will cause a major social disruption • Will affect multiple locations simultaneously so resources will not be able to be shifted geographically • Will overwhelm the health care sector • Health care facilities • Medical staff • Will not be enough vaccine or anti-viral medication for the entire population

  12. Pandemic Challenges, continued • May have more advance warning than other emergencies so will need to be careful with communication messages (share vs. scare)

  13. Implications for Schools • Children expected to have high rates of infection • Schools may face closures or release of students • Policy and logistical challenges • School feeding • Continuation of learning • Need for comprehensive approach • Schools may be used as emergency facilities

  14. Government's Response • Federal Government • National Strategy (November 2005) • Implementation Plan (May 2006) • Additional sector-specific guidance (Forthcoming) • Department of Education's Pandemic Influenza Plan • State Governments (www.pandemicflu.gov)

  15. Local Government's Response • Local planning efforts will be key • Local authorities will have significant responsibility for response • Collaboration is paramount

  16. Schools Can Start Planning Now…Prevention-Mitigation • Identify and talk to a contact in your local health department • Identify other key stakeholders, such as school nurses • Identify legal authorities for school closures and delegations of authority

  17. Prevention-Mitigation, Continued • Review management and other policies and identify gaps • Business Continuity Plans • Incident Command Structure • Succession Plans • Educate staff, parents, and students • Good health and hygiene habits (i.e. flu shots, effective hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, etc.) • Risks of infectious disease and prevention

  18. Schools Can Start Planning Now…Preparedness • Generate and review communication plans • Consider need for messages to different audiences • Identify and trusted spokesperson, such as Public Information Officer • Need for clear messages to help assuage fears • Evaluate supply policies and order supplies if needed (i.e. tissues, soap, alcohol gel, etc.) • Train teachers and staff on the risks and implications of a pandemic, as well as on contingency plans

  19. Preparedness, Continued • Create a surveillance system to help track student and staff absences • Consider different mechanisms for delivering educational content if schools are closed for extended period of time • Test your plan and conduct tabletop exercises that include a pandemic influenza situation

  20. Schools Can Start Planning Now…Response • Activate your ICS • Communicate with teachers, staff, and parents • Messages MUST be clear, accurate, and honest • Track absences in collaboration with local health department

  21. Response, Continued • Promote infection control measures among and between students and staff • Make necessary changes through the process

  22. Schools Can Start Planning Now…Recovery • Assess the physical AND mental health needs of students and staff • Ongoing health assessments and referrals (if necessary) • Provide materials on grieving, loss, maybe PTSD • Ensure support for staff, such as through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Ensure appropriate environmental remediation of school facility if school was used as health care site or if there were sick children in school building

  23. Recovery, Continued • Assess ongoing policies and practices, including regular "debriefing" • Return to learning environment

  24. Additional Resources • Federal government's pandemic influenza website: www.pandemicflu.gov • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov • Department of Homeland Security: www.dhs.gov • World Health Organization: www.who.int • Association of Sate and Territorial Health Officials: www.astho.org

  25. Frequently Asked Questions • Can I still eat chicken? • What does "effective hand washing" mean? • Should I use antibacterial products? • How will I know if I have the virus? • What can I do to prepare myself and family? • Can and should I buy Tamiflu today?

  26. Contact Information Dana Carr (202) 260-0823 Dana.Carr@ed.gov

More Related